Memoirs of the Courts and Cabinets of George the Third From the Original Family Documents, Volume 1   By: Richard Plantagenet Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos Grenville Buckingham and Chandos (1797-1861)

OF

GEORGE THE THIRD.

VOL. I.

[Illustration: George the Third.]

MEMOIRS

OF THE

COURT AND CABINETS

OF

GEORGE THE THIRD.

FROM ORIGINAL FAMILY DOCUMENTS.

BY

THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS, K.G.

IN TWO VOLUMES

VOL. I.

LONDON:

HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, SUCCESSORS TO HENRY COLBURN, 13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1853.

LONDON: Printed by Schulze and Co., 13, Poland Street.

INTRODUCTION.

In the selection and arrangement of the Correspondence contained in these Volumes, the intrusion of unnecessary commentaries and political opinions has been carefully avoided. The letters themselves are so lucid and complete, that the interest of the publication has been left to rest upon their details as far as possible. But as a collection of communications of this confidential nature, written from day to day upon passing events, must necessarily involve numerous allusions which, intelligible at the time, are either obscure or liable to misapprehension now, occasional notices of the principal topics and circumstances referred to have been introduced wherever they appeared to be required. By the help of this illustrative frame work a certain degree of continuity has been attempted to be preserved, so that the reader will have no difficulty in blending these materials into the history of the period they embrace.

Contents

1782.

The Close of Lord North's Administration The Second Rockingham Cabinet Mr. Thomas Grenville's Mission to Paris The Shelburne Administration Lord Temple Appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Irish Affairs.

1783.

The Renunciation Bill The Fall of the Shelburne Administration The Cabinet Interregnum The Coalition Ministry Resignation of Lord Temple.

1784.

Mr. Pitt's Administration Lord Temple Created Marquis of Buckingham His Private Notes on the Coalition.

1785.

The Breach Between the Marquis of Buckingham and Mr. Thomas Grenville.

1786.

Mr. W. W. Grenville Joins Mr. Pitt's Administration.

1787.

The Dawn of Free Trade The Assembly of Notables Affairs of Holland Arthur Wellesley The Marquis of Buckingham Assumes the Government of Ireland for the Second Time.

1788.

Irish Correspondence The India Declaratory Bill Trial of Warren Hastings Contemplated Changes in the Administration The King's Interference in Military Appointments The Irish Chancellorship The King's Illness Views of the Cabinet Respecting the Regency.

1782.

The Close of Lord North's Administration The Second Rockingham Cabinet Mr. Thomas Grenville's Mission to Paris The Shelburne Administration Lord Temple Appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Irish Affairs.

As no inconsiderable portion of the Correspondence contained in these volumes relates to the structure and conduct of Cabinets, throwing light upon public affairs from those secret recesses to which historians rarely have access, it may be useful, by way of introduction, to glance at certain circumstances which, during the period embraced in the work, exercised a special influence over the Government of the country: an influence no less directly felt in the councils of Ministers than in the measures and combinations of the Opposition.